“Snow Moon Pack has so many sons—and a favored daughter, too. Their firstborns should be taking the heat!”

“That woman is too reckless,” another chimed in.

Shawn’s face burned—his own child had been sacrificed for him.

“That belt strike was an accident!” he tried to defend himself. Inside, every whisper felt like coal on his skin.

He cleared his throat and declared, “Let’s go. Home.”

I forced a painful expression and shook my head. “I can’t walk, Daddy. My back—it’s bleeding. Don’t get your car stained… I’ll take a taxi to the hospital, then go home.”

A chorus of concern rose up:

“She’s injured! Who sends a wounded teen home...